Management of patients by reason for presentation
| Reason for MECS visit N (%) | % of patients managed by the community optometrist | Patients with no ocular pathology identified (%) | Patients referred to the HES (%) | Patients referred to GP (%) |
| Red eye (n=777) | 79.3 | 1.3 | 14.7 | 4.5 |
| Painful white eye (n=216) | 64.4 | 15.7 | 14.0 | 5.9 |
| Flashes/floaters (n=236) | 61.6 | 10.6 | 25.9 | 1.4 |
| Loss of vision (n=194) | 22.7 | 21.1 | 51.0 | 4.6 |
| Headaches (n=112) | 11.6 | 51.8 | 9.8 | 26.8 |
| Trauma (n=36) | 63.9 | 27.8 | 8.3 | 0.0 |
| Diplopia (n=8) | 12.5 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 12.5 |
| Other (n=538) | 22.7 | 21.1 | 51.0 | 4.6 |
Swollen lid/lid lump 21.7%; Watery eyes 19.8%; Itchy eyes 10.0%; Foreign body sensation, sore/dry/gritty eyes 14.8%; A reason for MECS visit was not provided for six patients.
GP, general practitioner; HES, Hospital Eye Service; MECS, Minor Eye Conditions Scheme.